That Familiar Feeling: Part 1
by frenchtoast101
It was a typical Friday night in L.A., which meant that every bar, joint and club within the city limits was packed full of rambunctious, noisy teenagers. The Fish Tank was no exception. Being L.A.'s newest and most popular bar, it was even more crowded than the others.

A dark-skinned girl slowly and carefully made her way through the dark, cramped alley behind the bar. Only about two weeks ago, she was told she was a potential Slayer. Her parents sent her awat to her Watcher when she was about four years old, but they had told her that he was her uncle. Being four years old and all, she believed them. Her Watcher, Kanye Zabuto, had never let her go to school or socialize with others. He would always make her work out or practice fighting techniques with him, which as far as she knew, uncles didn't normally do.

She couldn't say she was unhappy to ba a potential Slayer. Actually, it wasn't bad, considering she didn't know what else to do with her life. She hadn't been called as the Slayer yet. She wouldn't be until the current Slayer died. All she knew was that the Slayer resided in Sunnydale,California, which was sitting on top of a hellmouth. She could tell her time there would be very interesting.

Her Watcher told her to go to Sunnydale and help keep the vampire and demon population down, but to be discreet and not let anyone get on to her, or what she was doing. This bar was just a mere rest stop for her on her way to Sunnydale.

She showed the man standing at the door her ID, peeked in, surveying her surroundings, then quickly strode off in the direction of the mini-bar. The bar was unsightly; pole dancers in every corner, surrounded by drooling, anxious men. The air was filled with smoke, making it hard to see. She immediately dropped herself in one of the tall, red leather coated stools. The bartender walked towards her.

"What'll it be?" he asked.

"Miller Lite." She replied with a heavy accent. What would her Watcher say? She wasn't allowed to speak to boys. Well...who said he had to know? The bartender poured her drink and set it down in front of her. Already knowing the cost, she handed him a ten dollar bill.

"Keep the change." She answered before he even had the chance to open the cash register. He smiled gratefully and headed off to serve the next customer. She took a sip of the cold, fizzing liquid. She could almost feel her stress being washed away as it slid down her throat. Almost, that is. She was staring straight ahead, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a girl about her age, hop up onto the stool next to her, and extend her hand.

"Hey, I'm Faith." The girl repied.

"Kendra." The dark-skinned girl answered.

"What are you here for? Friend trouble, family trouble, boy trouble...?" She trailed off.

"You wouldn't beleive me if I told you." Kendra replied, placing her head in her hand.

"Try me."

Kendra shook her head." I'd rather not."

"Hey, it's ok, I've been there too. It sucks, huh?" Faith said, glancing over at Kendra, who just nodded. Faith actually felt sorry for her. She looked miserable.

*I wish I could tell her about all the crap in my life.* thought Faith. She knew she couldn't, of course. The whole 'secret identity' thing really sucked sometimes. Who knew being the Chosen One could be so hard? Faith wasn't technically 'chosen' yet, but being a potential Slayer didn't exactly lighten the stress load.

They talked for a little while about nothing in particular. Actually, Faith did most of the talking because Kendra was still a beginner at socializing. About two hours flew by before Kendra realized what time it was.

"I really should be going now." Kendra replied as she hastily slid off her stool. She needed to get to Sunnydale before dawn and maybe dust a few vamps.

"Why?" Faith asked, taken aback by Kendra's sudden urge to leave.

"Destiny!" She shouted over the roar of the crowd as she headed out the door. That last word rang in Faith's head like church bells. It sounded so hauntingly familiar. She quickly shoved her rhoughts away as she too headed for the exit, mentally preparing herself to face her own destiny... and possibly her fate.
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The End

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